I lost my Social Security card and need to get another, but I start a new job tomorrow. Do you think they will still allow me to start?

Your passport should probably be sufficient….I have always used passport + driver’s license and been fine. Good luck.

I was told I needed both my passport and something else—driver’s license, perhaps? However, I would think your passport + naturalization certificate should be enough for any employer.

I would think a passport would do it, but they may need a ss# If you have the number, I think that should work, even it they don’t see the card.

Thank you flutherites! I can sleep more soundly with this bit of verification.

your passport and and ID.

If you have something from List “A”, you don’t need anything from list “B” or “C.” If not, you need one thing from list “A” and One thing from list “B.”
Following is a list of the acceptable documents as they appear on the most recent Form I-9 (all documents must be unexpired):

List A – Documents that Establish Both Identity and Employment Eligibility

U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card
Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)
Foreign passport that contains a temporary I-551 stamp or temporary I-551 printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa
Employment Authorization Document that contains a photograph (Form I-766)
In the case of a nonimmigrant alien authorized to work for a specific employer incident to status, a foreign passport with Form I–94 or Form I–94A bearing the same name as the passport and containing an endorsement of the alien’s nonimmigrant status, as long as the period of endorsement has not yet expired and the proposed employment is not in conflict with any restrictions or limitations identified on the form
A passport from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) or the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) with Form I–94 or Form I–94A indicating nonimmigrant admission under the Compact of Free Association Between the United States and the FSM or RMI

List B – Documents that Establish Identity

Driver’s license or ID card issued by a state or outlying possession of the United States, provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address
ID card issued by federal, state, or local government agencies or entities, provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address
School ID card with a photograph
Voter’s registration card
U.S. military card or draft record
Military dependent’s ID card
U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner card
Native American tribal document
Driver’s license issued by a Canadian government authority
(For persons under age 18 who are unable to present a document listed above:)
School record or report card
Clinic, doctor, or hospital record
Day-care or nursery school record

List C – Documents that Establish Employment Eligibility

A Social Security account number card other than one that specifies on the face that the issuance of the card does not authorize employment in the United States
Certification of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (Form FS-545)
Certification of Report of Birth issued by the Department of State (Form DS-1350)
Original or certified copy of birth certificate issued by a State, county, municipal authority, or territory of the United States bearing an official seal
Native American tribal document
U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197)
Identification Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the United States (Form I-179)
Employment authorization document issued by the Department of Homeland Security

From this website.

I don’t see why this would be a problem. I had a job where I didn’t give them my social security card for almost two months, because it was lost. When I did give it to them, they entered my number wrong and so all my tax stuff was wrong the next year. It was a huge hassle. Basically what I’m saying is it didn’t seem to matter to this employer, but I’m sure it varies.

If you have a passport, that will suffice for your I-9 form. If you know your Social Security Number, you should be fine. They need the number, but I’ve rarely (if ever) heard of an employer insisting on seeing the original card.

Also, FWIW, depends on how formal the organization is. I can see them sending you home from a fortune 500, but even there they’ll probably give you time if you don’t have a passport or one other list B item in addition to your DL. Or if you are going to work for a small company, last place I worked, I was in charge of the info, I just told people to give it to me as soon as they could, and if I didn’t see it in a couple weeks I’d follow up. Mostly it’s one of those things that goes in your employee file in case they ever have to prove the legality of their employees, which is pretty rare.

When you go to get the card, they should give you some kind of receipt – proof you were there. This piece of paper was sufficient for starting my last job until the actual card arrived.

I can’t remember the last time I showed somebody my Social Security card. It’s in my safe deposit box. I used my passport to provide proof of citizenship when I started on my current job.

If you are worried, then when you go to Social Security ask them if they can give you a temporary letter to indicate that you have applied for the replacement card, Then if you know your SS number, just give it to the folks at work.

I’m never heard of using it as identification.

When I changed my name, I went to the Social Security Office and got a new card right there, they print them up there. So, you might get it instantly.

Surely you only need know your social security number. I lost my card years ago but memorized the number, I’ve never needed to show it to anyone as long as I know the number.

But then again, I live in England…

If they ask for more documentation than an offered List A document be careful. It is illegal to require “over documentation”. If you do not have a List A document, take the paperwork given to you by the Social Security office. Your new company will accept that in lieu of the SS Card until you receive a new card.

That being said, a List A document is always much easier to deal with so use it if you got it!

We need to have our SSI cards to get Driver’s license or state ID cards now.

You should be able to find your SSN on your previous year tax returns. Or your parents may know.